Friday, 1 May 2015

Laval de Nize, a beautiful spring walk in the Languedoc.

Laval de Nize, 6.5km, 2H 30 yellow markers. Easy. A lovely walk in the Monts de Orb above Lunas, with beautiful scenery, ancient chestnut forest, lovely waterfalls and pools along the river Nize and lots of wonderful flowers. 

The walk starts by taking the little D35E9 up from Lunas to park just before the bridge at Laval de Nize. You will see the walks post at the back of the parking area. Follow the yellow markers along the track towards the stream, it takes you do some stone steps and then beside the river. There are lots of lovely little waterfalls here and pretty pools too.

Cross the stream and walk up the other side. The woods begin to open up as you go higher and you will see more and more cowslips and orchids as you climb. Then you cross the stream once again and climb higher with views of the tops opening up. 

The little path bares right and joins a larger track (marked yellow/red) which goes up to the GR7. Here you turn right and walk towards the little hamlet of Briandes, which is about 2km along this wooded track, high above the valley. The views of the Monts de Orb are lovely here amongst the old chestnut trees.

Here the edges of the track is lined with cowslips and dotted with different types of orchids. Look out for wild peonies and aquilegia too. The route bares right at a view point and then heads into the hamlet of Briandes. Go through the hamlet taking first |a right and then a left onto a tiny path beside a field of sheep. 

This path is first wooded and then it has the most lovely open views of the valley with still more orchids adorning the path. At the small stone steeps turn right on the little road to the car park a few yards away.

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